HIV alert over bogus dentist

By Celia Hall, Medical Editor

12:01AM BST 16 Sep 2005

Almost 600 patients of a bogus dentist have received letters warning them that they may be at risk of diseases such as HIV and hepatitis.

All the patients identified by three London primary care trusts are being offered blood tests and free dental checks following treatment by Omid Amidi-Mazaheri between September 2002 and February last year.

So far 599 patients have been identified in Norbury, Tulse Hill and East Dulwich, south London, who were treated by the man, a failed Iranian asylum seeker who is now serving a two-year sentence for fraud.

He went by four other names, Omidi Amidi-Mahaheri, Omid Amidy, Omid Mozahri and Johannes Kidane.

While authorities at Croydon, Lambeth and Southwark primary care trusts have no knowledge that Amidi-Mazaheri was infected himself, they are concerned that he did not use proper sterilising procedures and that there might have been cross-infection between patients.

They believe that they have identified all but a "handful" of patients treated by the man. As a precaution they have set up clinics to test for HIV and hepatitits B and C in addition to checking dental work.

People who think they may have been treated by Amidi-Mazaheri can call Croydon: 020 8274 6333 or Lambeth: 0800 587 8078.